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Insurance
in Australia
became a big deal as in the USA, but Australians are
kings and Queens when the subject is to be protected. Opposed
to New Zealand which has one of the best social security
system in the world, together with some Scandinavian
countries, the Australian social system in my opinion,
went downhill during John Howard government. Elderly
people and the disadvantaged, suffered the most. To
compensate for the lack of proper investments in the
sector, the government came with incentives for the
population jump into private insurance and leave the
government alone. in special the private health
insurance. Because Australia openly copy the American
system, the country is becoming year by year a place
where people are prosecuting the other for small things.
Why Australia just don't copy the ACC Kiwi system? (read
about ACC in the same topic about New Zealand).
Insurance to cover insurance is not something alien in
the Australia way of life, but anyway, some of these
insurance are compulsory even for someone for example, studding
in Australia for a time longer than 3 months.
Travel
Insurance
- As is written in the government website, if
you can not afford insurance, you cannot afford to
travel. So, be wise that Medical consultation, hospitals
and dentists are among the highest in the world. Dentist
for example charges so high that many Australians are
taking holidays in Thailand, Bali or Indonesia, just to
do dental treatments. That means if you are coming to
visit Australia, an insurance that cover eventual
medical expenses is a must. Don't forget to check if
your health/medical insurance also covers ambulance. A
single 200 Km ambulance ride can cost up to A$ 2000.
Another important part to include in your insurance, is
a third party liability insurance and legal insurance
(one that cover lawyers in case you need them). If the
insurance also extend its coverage to flight cancellations
and loss or thief or your luggage, it will be a bonus.
But the most important insurance is the medical one.
Compulsory
Insurance for Students -
Called in Australia OSHC which means " Overseas Students Health
Cover". It was made compulsory by the government,
meaning that without it, you will not be allowed to
study in Australia. This insurance have to be paid
according the duration of the course, example, if you
will study for 6 months, you must pay 6 months of
insurance to the OSHC. Usually when you enrol in one
course, the course itself send you th bill togheter with
the payment for the tuition. In case you come to study
and is bringing the family, there is a redution per head
for everyone in you family be also covered. This
Insurance covers medical and hospitals emergencies and
expences and depending which plan you choose, can also
cover consultations with doctors and medicines.Note that
OSHC will pay 100% of the bill if you go to a public
hospital, but only part of the costs if you choose a
private hospital. OSHC doesn't cover, Dentists,
Oftalmologists, and medicines, but if you upgrade for a
kind of " Gold Plan", every need can be
covered, including ambulance. The best thing to do is to
consult the school or the insurer to know every
condiction of the plan choosen.
There
are many companies in Australia which work also
with OSHC
in Australia.
They differ in price and plans. The better known
are:
Prices
2007 for an OSHC Individual
| Duration |
Price |
| 3
months |
A$
79 |
| 6
months |
A$
158 |
| 9
months |
A$
237 |
| 12
months |
A$
315 |
Car insurance in
Australia costs
in average A$ 560 per year depending on the year, model
and maker of the car. The so called "Comprehensive
Insurance", covers everything, such as damages
cause in your car or other person's cars, plus fire and
thief. If your car is new or almost new, you can go for
an "Agreed Value" in which you and the insurer
agrre for a value to be paid for you in case of complete
loss of you car. Car older than 10 years are usually out
of this deal, except collectors cars. A good alternative
for who owns an old car, is to purchase insurance only
for "Third Party" damage, meaning if
you crash your car against someone else's car, the
insurance pays for the damage cause by you on the other
person's car, or a wall, a post light, etc...It doesn't
pays to fix your car. Note that Australia has some
imported cars from Japan etc...and almost 100% of the
insurers will not accept a comprehensive insurance for
this cars, only third party insurance. Just to give you
an idea, a post on an Australian street cost around A$
20,000. So if you put one down, you'd better have
insurance.
Insurance
for Ranted Cars -
can be difficult to understand. The reason is because
all cars for rent have comprehensive insurance but,
there is a big but..there is something called
"Excess". This means that the car is full
covered but if you do a damage, let's say up to A$ 1000
you pay for this value (the excess). If the damage is A$
5000, you pay A$ 1000 and the insurance 4000. You can by
the excess or part of it, for 10 or 20 extra dollars per
day, and reduce this excess, but is up to you to find
out if it would will be a good deal for you. Anyway,
most of these insurances do not cover windscreen and
tyres.
Note:
In Australia if you are found guilty of an accident and
are under the influence of any amount of alcohol, the
insurance company can refuse to pay for damages.
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| Roger
purchased an insurance against spatial
invasions. To get an insurance like
this, look for the alien next to you. |
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